HAKEME no YUNOMI (handcrafted Teacup: pair)

For this item, the artist Mr. Tanii imagined a scene where a genial zephyr (wind) gently stirs the grass, which sways in the soft warm sunlight, and created this Yunomi. White brush lines represent waves of grass in a pleasant breeze. And the faint atmospheric green color on the white brush lines bring to life the genial zephyr and the sunlight. The basic soil which appears at the bottom expresses a generosity of the earth.

White brush lines are created by a technique called soil composition. White soil is coated on basic soil by a brush made with straw. Mr. Tanii makes this special brush for this Yunomi. Basic soil is reddish soil containing large amounts of iron. The faint atmospheric green color is called BEEDORO glaze, which is one of the glazes traditionally used for Shigaraki Yaki.

Your eye will also focus on the bottom of the Yunomi, on which the earthen surface appears. It is called "Tsuchi Mise" meaning "showing soil" and is one of the most traditional and difficult techniques used for the highest grade Raku Yaki matcha bowls. The earthen surface is finished with a rough texture in order to create the WABI-SABI atmosphere. To create this unique texture, some efforts and techniques are required, for example unique innovations of clay blending and shaping.

Of course, from a functional viewpoint this Yunomi is well thought out and of an ideal design. This Yunomi is thin ceramic in order to enjoy the subtle flavor of high quality Japanese tea, which tastes best when served in a thin ceramic cup. Most Shigaraki Yaki pottery is too thick to enjoy high quality Japanese tea. To create thin Shigaraki Yaki requires many efforts. For example, Hozan Tanii collects his own clay from the mountain, and is continuously experimenting with new ceramic and glaze formulations and techniques to perfect his designs.

Upon using this Yunomi, one feels an atmosphere as if the mind is unleashed in the scene where the genial zephyr gently stirs the grass, which sways in the soft warm sunlight.

Specially packaged in a carton box.
Lead-free. Made in Japan.
Free shipping on all tea ware items!

Price

Learn More

Hozan Tanii

Hozan Tanii was born in 1953. He graduated from the technical art department at Osaka Art University. And he took over the third generation of Tanikan Kiln in 1983. He is one of only a few artisans who explore the infinite beauty, depth, and range of clay itself, in contrast to the many artisans who explore glaze colors or printing. He has and makes full use of fourteen kinds of kilns and several tens of thousands kinds of glaze in order to bring out the boundlessness possibility of earthen clay. He frequently goes to the mountain in Shigaraki where he lives and collects clay. He has continued to experiment using the clay he finds and tries to bring out the infinite possibility of clay for over 30 years. All of his arts are well-planned and elaborated in various view points, beauty, function, usefulness, and so on. In addition, made from sustainable natural elements, his creations work symbiotically with the earth's ecosystem.

Directions

- It is best to wash this item using only tepid water or mild chlorine-free dish washing detergent.
- After use, please dry thoroughly. Otherwise, it could possibly get moldy.
- If necessary, you may occasionally use a chlorine detergent. In that case, after using the chlorine detergent, we recommend you boil this item in water to remove the chlorine smell.
- Do not wash in a dish washing machine.